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Bills Today | Buffalo climbs to this spot in ESPN's latest power rankings

Maddy Glab

Multi-media journalist

1. Buffalo climbs to this spot in ESPN's latest power rankings

ESPN released their 2020 post free agency power rankings and the Bills moved up two spots to No. 9 after their way-too-early rankings were released in February. ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques says the Bills moved up in the ranking for addressing their needs amidst the other moves made in the AFC East.

Three words: AFC East front-runner.While the Jets focused on building their offensive line, the Dolphins spent big money on marquee free agents and the Patriots coped with the loss of quarterback Tom Brady, the Bills made one of their splashiest moves of the new league year, trading for wide receiver Stefon Diggs. The additions Buffalo made on defense should, on paper, make an already-stout group even better -- vaulting the Bills to the top of the preseason AFC East totem pole. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

New faces in new places means it's time for a fresh set of NFL power rankings.

NFL analyst Andy Benoit joined One Bills Live this week to talk about what the Bills should do address in the upcoming draft with their second-round pick. Benoit said it depends on who is available at No. 54, but a defensive end looks like a need for the Buffalo in the coming years.

"Defensive end is a need at some point, and probably now they could use one more pass rusher off the edge," Benoit said. "I know Mario Addison is a nice player and Jerry Hughes is still playing at a high enough level but both of those guys are well into their 30s. You can never have too many pass rushers especially in a defense that likes to play eight guys up front and play fast and rotate bodies. If there is an edge rusher that they like, someone they can groom long term that would be helpful."

Benoit said a defensive tackle could be an option for the Bills to look into as well for a third or fourth round pick.

The Bills traded their 2020 first-round, fifth-round and sixth-round pick away for receiver Stefon Diggs, but Buffalo still has seven draft picks including a second-round pick at No. 54.

Several mock drafts believe Buffalo could be eyeing a running back to complement running back Devin Singletary with their second-round pick. CBS Sports has the Bills choosing running back Cam Akers out of Florida State in the second-round of their most recent mock draft.

Frank Gore is gone and Devin Singletary can't do it alone. Akers ran behind a bad O-line at Florida State and was still a game-changer -- imagine him in Buffalo in that offense.

In 2019, Akers had 231 carries for 1,144 rushing yards and scored 14 touchdowns. With the third-round pick, CBS Sports has the Bills drafting edge rusher Alex Highsmith out of Charlotte.

Highsmith is a high-upside athlete who would have a chance to grow in Sean McDermott's defense.

In 2019, Highsmith had 14 sacks, 21.5 tackles for loss and 75 total tackles.

My latest three-round mock just went up on @CBSSports (this one has trades!). Have the Dolphins, Bucs, Jags and Browns all trading up in Round 1 and the Pats trading up into Round 2: https://t.co/hxXyNGxTtN

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